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Stephen King can spin tales like few others. He may be known for horror, but keep in mind he is also responsible for more emotive works such as The Green Mile, The Shawshank Redemption, and Stand by Me. In Joyland, a college student takes seasonal work with an amusement park and sets aside heartbreak to grow a friendship with a frail boy and his overprotective young mother. Lighthearted adventures at the park are offset by rumors of a vicious murder that once happened on one of the rides. Those with an appetite for the unexplained will still be satisfied, but there is an underlying sweetness as well. Narrator Michael Kelly wisely gives a soft-spoken, earnest reading that juggles the wonder of coming into one’s own with a carnival ride of great storytelling.

With 2015 just around the corner bringing a whole new crop of to-be-read lists to tackle, shows to watch, and music to experience, Staff at Mount Prospect Public Library took time to pause and look at what brought us joy in 2014. Check out staff members’ favorite books, CDs, or DVDs they read, watched and/or listened to in 2014. Feel free to share what is on your list of favorites for the year!

The greatest books defy category, and the ambitious Station Eleven by Emily St. John Mandel is a shining example. With equal appeal to fans of post-apocalyptic settings and to readers of complex, thought-provoking novels, this National Book Award finalist is a sure bet for multiple Best of 2014 lists. The on-stage death of a celebrity actor portraying King Lear is the harbinger of a global pandemic that destroys life as we know it. The action seamlessly moves between the old and new worlds, and Kirsten Potter’s discerning narration allows the slow revelation of unexpected connections to take the spotlight. Is survival sufficient in a world wiped out by disease, or is there hope for more? When all the world’s a stage, we just may find out.

Janet Evanovich fans should try one of her novels in audio form. Told with a heavy Jersey accent, Takedown Twentywill give you a chuckle as New Jersey bounty hunter Stephanie Plum gets caught up in numerous crazy antics including a runaway giraffe. This time she is after Uncle Sunny Sunucchi, who is loved and protected by many relatives.

American readers can now experience for themselves why the rest of the globe is glad to know A Man Called Ove. He isn’t an easy person to love, with his insistence on resident association rules and his unswerving conviction that the only car worth driving is a Saab. As his new neighbors discover, there is more to Ove than his gruff exterior reveals. Actor George Newbern reads the English translation of Fredrik Backman’s debut, and he does so with both bemusement and sympathy for the crusty main character who thinks he’s had enough of this world. Fans of The Storied Life of A.J. Fikry will especially enjoy the clever mix of characters and the comic but heart-tugging impact one person can have on a community.

By Cathleen, Readers' Advisor on November 3, 2014 Categories: Audiobooks

Actor Colin Firth reads the dreamy, reflective prose of Graham Greene in the 2013 Audiobook of the Year, The End of the Affair. A modern classic in its own right, the story examines the complexities of jagged emotions against the backdrop of a turbulent time. What happens when a seemingly passionate relationship is brought to an abrupt end? We experience it all through Maurice’s first-person narration, and his testimonial proves to be a one-man theatre showcase for Firth’s expert performance. As his character grapples with desire, jealousy, religion, and death, listeners realize that this is a story about so much more than two separated lovers.

Imagine you are a less-than-legit businessperson and you need someone who is smart, resourceful, and willing to operate outside the law to investigate some internal sabotage. You’ll also need to ensure that this individual can be controlled. What do you do? If you are Trey Annunziato, you set up one of the best career burglars in an interrupted robbery of a dangerously “connected” family and then blackmail him into helping you keep your new adult movie venture on schedule. Crashed is the first of Timothy Hallinan’s Junior Bender series, and Peter Berkrot’s reading brings every wisecracking, dangerous moment to life. As Junior tries to keep worse trouble for himself at bay, he develops a soft spot for the former child star he’s supposed to be pushing into a questionable career choice. Donald Westlake fans will enjoy the schemes, and listeners will no doubt want to hear more of Bender’s voice.